Taxonomic revision of Carusia (Reptilia, Squamata) from the late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert and phylogenetic relationships of anguimorphan lizards. American Museum novitates ; no. 3230

Abstract

"New specimens of lizards collected by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences-American Museum of Natural History Expeditions from the Gobi Desert include a large sample of superbly preserved cranial material of Carusia intermedia. Study of these specimens resolves problematic aspects of the cranial morphology and phylogenetic relationships of this poorly known lizard taxon. Analyses of 105 morphological characters across 30 selected ingroup and three outgroup taxa yield a phylogeny. This result refutes a previously suggested ?Scincomorphan relationship of Carusia, instead supporting placement of this taxon in the Anguimorpha. A new lizard clade including the basal Carusia and the crown group Xenosauridae is recognized. This clade occupies the basalmost position within the Anguimorpha. Recognition of this taxon as a basal anguimorphan resolves the Xenosauridae/Anguidae/Varanoidea polytomy. Relationships of platynotan taxa known from the Gobi Desert are also discussed and problems with these taxa are addressed"--P. [1].